EFFECT OF CARBON-DIOXIDE PNEUMOPERITONEUM ON BACTEREMIA AND SEVERITY OF PERITONITIS IN AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL

Background: Laparoscopy is increasingly used in conditions complicated by peritonitis. A theoretical concern is that carbon dioxide pneumope ritoneum may increase bacteremia. Method: In 60 rats peritonitis was i nduced by cecostomy. Animals were randomly allocated to pneumoperitone um (PP) and control groups. Blood cultures and intraabdominal swabs we re assessed. A peritonitis severity score (PSS) was computed based on histology from peritoneal biopsy. Results: One hour after cecostomy ne ither in abdominal swabs nor in blood samples bacteria were reproduced in PP and control groups. Three hours after cecostomy the frequency o f positive blood cultures was 80% and 20% in PP and control groups, re spectively (p < 0.0001). Six hours after cecostomy the frequency of po sitive blood cultures was 100% in each group (p > 0.05). One hour afte r cecostomy the mean peritoneal severity score was significantly highe r in the PP group than in the control group, but there was not any sig nificant difference between groups 3 and 6 h after cecostomy. The mean peritoneal severity scores were found to be significantly increased w ith time when the PP groups compared with each other. Conclusion: In r ats, pneumoperitoneum can't cause a more seven peritonitis but it does induce an increase in the rate of bacteremia within the early 6-h per iod of peritonitis.